Voice of protest in Western Orissa over Gandhamardhan mining

Sambalpur, Oct 11(UNI) After two decades the voice of protest against the exploration of bauxite from the historic Gandhamardhan hill has started brewing up.

It was during 1980s the people of Western Orissa resorted to a violent agitation that forced the BALCO to abandon the idea of mining from the Gandhamardhan hill for its plant in Madhya Pradesh.

And now after almost two decades, the people have again decided to raise the banner of revolt against the bauxite mining by the Public Sector National Aluminium Company Limited(NALCO).

An all party meeting to protest exploration of minerals from Historic Gandhamardan hill was held at Paikmal on Tuesday last by Gandhamardan Surakshya Juba Parishad(GSJP) where leaders cutting above party lines and people from all walks of life, echoed their concern over the NALCO's proposal for mining lease of Gandhamardhan hill.

All this started after NALCO Chairman-cum-Managing Director C R Pradhan on September 28 last told a press conference in Bhubaneswar that the company was keen for exploitation of bauxite deposit from the Gandhamardhan hill.

When his attention was drawn to a long battle by the people of Western Orissa against the mining in the 1980s, Mr Pradhan quipped saying that he was aware of the problem.

The local people, he said had opposed BALCO because it was not a state based company. Mr.Pradhan also assured that there would be no threat to the ecology of the area and the two temples located on the hill if the mining was taken up by the NALCO.

He disclosed that the company had already approached the state government to recommend in its favour for the exploitation of bauxite from the Gandhamardhan hill which has a deposit of 220 million tonnes. The Company, he further said had sought environmental clearance for mining.

The simmering discontentment against the NALCO's proposal surfaced when Sambalpur parliament member Prasanna Acharya from the ruling Biju Janata Dal(BJD) recently appealed to the people to raise protest against the proposal tooth and nail. In the 1980s, Mr Acharay said he had actively associated with the agitation to oppose the BALCO's proposal to start mining from the Gandhamardhan hill.

UNI